Rio Hondo College News

Press release
3600 Workman Mill Road / Whittier, CA 90601 / 562-692-0921

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Merle Enriquez   Secretary
Department: Planning and Development
Phone:  (562) 692-0921  Ext. 3412
Rio E-Mail: MEnriquez@riohondo.edu

Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital Partners with Rio Hondo College to Maintain  Nursing Program Expansion
 

Whittier - The nursing shortage continues to be one of the most critical problems fueling the nation’s healthcare crisis. However, Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital (PIH) is teaming with Rio Hondo College to begin to mitigate this issue locally.

Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital has committed $100,000 to Rio Hondo College, via Rio Hondo’s Educational Foundation, to fund a full-time faculty position, allowing the college to maintain its current expanded enrollment.

“This is an excellent example of two organizations working together to address an issue that impacts the entire community,” said Rio Hondo College Board of Trustees President Gary Mendez. “Rio Hondo is absolutely committed to protecting the well-being of all the residents within our district. It is through these sorts of partnerships that the community sees the greatest rewards.”

Many of the nurses on staff at PIH are Rio Hondo College graduates. Rio Hondo College is one of the largest sources of nurses for the hospital. In response to the nursing shortage, Rio Hondo has increased their Associate Degree Nursing/ADN program over the past five years - up from 48 students per year to a current program capacity of 84. Funding from PIH has allowed the program to maintain the increased capacity for the last three years. But even with the increased capacity, the nursing shortage remains a very real problem faced by the healthcare industry.

The increased enrollment was made possible due to an initial $300,000 grant from Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital to expand the program’s faculty. But that was short-term funding and college officials needed to find alternate funding if they were to maintain the program at its current levels. With the assistance of the college’s Educational Foundation, they again contacted Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital CEO, James West, who was receptive to the call for assistance.

“We are the largest healthcare provider in our community and we recognize the importance of working collaboratively with our local organizational partners to meet and exceed the expectations of our community,” West said. “Rio Hondo has provided quality training for many of our nurses, so we view this funding as an investment in our overall healthcare program.”

Located in Whittier, California, Rio Hondo College is a collaborative center of lifelong learning, which provides innovative, challenging, and quality educational offering - including programs and courses leading to transfer and vocational degrees and certificates - for its diverse students and community. For more information on the college or its programs, please call (562) 692-0921.


-RHC-


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